Spondylitis is the term used to describe several types of inflammatory arthritis. In medical speak, spondylitis translates to “inflammation of the spine.” Spondylitis conditions can also affect the eyes, skin, or gastrointestinal tract. It also includes arthritis conditions that affect the peripheral joints (i.e. not the spine) that are not rheumatoid arthritis.
What are the spondylitis conditions?
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Enteropathic arthritis (arthritis related to Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis)
- Reactive arthritis
- Undifferentiated spondylitis
There is also some movement towards diagnosing these conditions as either axial or peripheral spondyloarthritis. Axial refers to the spine and sacral joints (the joints between the pelvis and base of the spine). Peripheral is everything else (essentially the joints of your arms and legs), including the points where muscles and ligaments connect to bone.
Where can I get more information?
Check out the Canadian Spondylitis Association for a lot more information on spondylitis.